Harvard professor suggests eating only six fries in one serve

You’d be hard pressed to find someone who isn’t a fan of fries. Whether you prefer them skinny or on the chunky side - there's no denying that these deep fried potatoes simultaneously curb salt cravings and miraculously cure hangovers.

But a professor has drawn the attention of the public after questioning how many we're eating in one sitting.

LISTEN: Warm flaky, tasty, pastry pies are an easy and delicious meal to bake up through the week, so Jane de Graaff has journeyed into the kitchens of Sydney's Shangri-La Hotel to talk to the punk princess of pastry, Anna Polyviou

In an article published by The New York Times last week, Harvard University Academic Professor Rimm made the controversial claim that fries are so bad for us that we should eat no more than six at a time.

Rimm referred to them as ‘starch bombs’ that are the unhealthiest vegetable consumers could eat, and that stricter regulations need to be enforced around the consumption of fries.

“I think it would be nice if your meal came with a side salad and six French fries” he said.

While there's nothing surprising about this claim, french fry lovers couldn't look past his assertion that we must stop at six.

Because surely that's never happened in the history of french fry consumption.

Also, after the highly complicated debate that recently flared up over what to call french fries - we know that the internet gets fired up over fried.

Because surely that's never happened in the history of french fry consumption.

This incensed French fry aficionados, with some going as far as demanding the professor’s degree to be revoked.

"I don't need this kind of negativity in my life. #Givemeallthefries" one twitter user wrote.

But it wasn’t long before the professor responded to the backlash that ensued. Rimm stressed that he only meant to suggest that restaurant try giving patrons a smaller portion if they request it.

"My suggestion to the NYTimes was that perhaps restaurants should offer a smaller portion size as a tantalizing option to satisfy those with a taste for fries but who don't want the starch bomb" he wrote in response to a Twitter user who posted his credentials.